When brush is high along levees, opportunities for wildlife viewing
may be limited, except for visitors with airboats and tracked vehicles.
Wading birds and raptors are common on the area. The best time to see
birds is in February near recreational areas along I-75. The endangered
snail kite as well as many other birds can be seen year-round from Tamiami
Trail at the Miccosukee Restaurant (L67) and at 40-mile bend. Although
not a common resident, the endangered Florida panther is occasionally
found on the area.
The area hosts one of the top 10 wading bird rookeries in the nation
and usually supports 10-20 pairs of roseate spoonbills and 90-100 nesting
pairs of the wood stork. In general, wading birds can be found throughout
the area. However, in the spring months, they tend to concentrate around
the last remaining pools of water.
